AN: Just a short bridge chapter...
Chapter 6
Drifting through the vortex in silence, the Doctor tightened another bolt, completing repairs he hadn't done in centuries. He wiped a grease-coated hand on his grungy jeans, wincing slightly at the filthiness of his clothes. But who was around to care?
For three months he had been silent. Three months of avoiding Rose's room, of averting his gaze as he passed little things she had left behind. He could barely force himself to go into the kitchen, her mug still half-full on the counter. He knew he had lost a full kilo, if not more.
He stood, unfolding himself from underneath the grating, his ribs twinging. He sighed, rubbing a hand through his short-shorn hair.
The TARDIS phone rang, shattering the stillness. The Doctor didn't move for a moment, looking at the phone like it would bite him. With trepidation, he finally answered it.
"Hello?" he croaked.
"Rose is sick," Jackie said simply, her voice brusque, "We… She needs your help."
"I'll be right there," he said quickly, his hearts in his throat.
He didn't think; his hands moving independently as he set a course for Rose.
The TARDIS had just phased completely when the Doctor shot out, a black medical bag in his hand.
"What are her symptoms?" he asked Jackie, striding quickly towards Rose's room. Before Jackie could respond, he was at Rose's door. Mickey sat on a chair next to her bed, her hand clenched tightly in his.
Rose lay upon the bed, her eyes open and staring at the ceiling.
"Rose?" the Doctor said softly, ignoring Mickey's hate-filled glare. Rose didn't respond, not even to blink.
The Doctor turned to Jackie, "What happened?" he asked, his voice tight.
Jackie shook her head, "She was having nightmares, that's all. But every night they got worse instead of better. And she couldn't sleep. So we called a doctor, but they couldn't find anything wrong." Jackie looked up sharply at him, "But they did find out she's pregnant."
The Doctor closed his eyes, his hand white-knuckled as he gripped the bag. He forced his eyes open, "How did she get to this?" he asked.
"She was… upset when she found out. And, of course, they couldn't give her any meds to help her sleep. And it just got worse until yesterday. Yesterday morning, I came in to check on her, and found her like this. She won't move. She doesn't even blink. I didn't know what to do," Jackie said, tears in her eyes.
"Is it the baby?" Mickey asked, his voice cold. "Is it going to kill her?" He looked up from her still face, "It is alien, after all," he finished.
The Doctor bristled, "It's not the baby," he said, equally as cold. "My mother was human, so the baby is mostly human. And even if it wasn't, it wouldn't hurt her."
"Just like you wouldn't?" Mickey asked derisively.
The Doctor deflated, the new white scar beside his left eye glowing against his pale skin. "You called me here," he said finally, "Let me help."
Mickey reluctantly moved from his place beside Rose, watching carefully as the Doctor examined Rose, tensing at every alien gadget he scanned her with.
The Doctor finally paused, gazing down at Rose with a forlorn expression on his face.
"What?" Mickey and Jackie chorused.
Without a word, the Doctor picked Rose up, her head lolling against his chest as he pushed past her family.
"Now wait a bloody minute here!" Jackie shouted, grabbing his arm.
"Yah!" Mickey said, standing in front of the TARDIS doors with an implacable expression. "If you think we're just gonna let you swan off, you're out of your bloody mind!"
The Doctor turned to Jackie, "I am going to save Rose," he said, "You and Mickey the Idiot are not going to stop me. So stop your yammering and get out of my way."
Jackie stood firm, her eyes matching his in their protectiveness, "Why should I?"
The Doctor looked down at Rose, "I did this to her. I have to fix it. It is her only chance," he said softly.
Jackie measured the truth in his eyes, and then nodded, "Get out of his way, Mickey," she said.
"What?" Mickey shouted, "Are you insane? After what he did?"
Jackie looked over at him, "Oy, watch it!" she shouted, "She's my daughter."
Mickey turned his glare on the Doctor, "You hurt her again, and I'll hunt you to the end of the universe," he threatened.
"Understood," the Doctor said, pushing past impatiently and entering the TARDIS.
Mickey and Jackie watched anxiously as the TARDIS disappeared, both wondering if they would ever see it, or Rose, again.
